VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Ubud’s art village in Gianyar regency, Bali will hold Balispirit Festival on April 2 until 8 for a week. The event is expected to attract more than 8,000 visitors from 50 countries. This was stated by assistant manager of Balispirit Festival, Yuliani Supandji, in Gianyar, on Tuesday (6/2). The 11th Balispirit Festival has the theme Bhinneka Tunggal Ika in English "Unity in Diversity" which refers to the diversity of the Indonesian nation. In addition, the festival also indicates that regardless of the difference, the multi-culture of the people, there is a true unity among Indonesian people. Balispirit Festival is established with the theme of the main event, namely holistic, health and world music which give positive contribution on ecologic health, cultural spirit and vitality in Bali in specific and in Indonesia in general. Yuliani Supandji said that through yoga tradition, dance, music, and an inspirational method of healing the soul, Balispirit Festival describes Hindu Bali concept about Tri Hita Karana, the harmony of life with spiritual, social, and natural environment.

Reducing drugs abuse among young generation needs strict parental supervision and intensive religious education. Manager of Islamic boarding school of Matlabul Ulum Jambu Lenteng, Taufikurrahman said in Sumenep, Madura, East Java on Tuesday (6/3), the important factor which can prevent children from drugs or other negative behaviors, must be begun from family’s environment by giving maximally supervision on child’s behavior. In addition, parent must pay attention on religious education of their children. Strong faith will protect children from negative influence. Law enforcers must give heavy punishment drug abuse in order to have a deterrent effect. Even, socialization to boarding school is very effective to give understanding to people or students about the danger of the drugs. Taufikurrahman also said that the development of social media also has a central role in giving comprehension about the danger of the drugs and punishment which is given for drug abuse.

Monkey Forest natural tourism object in Ubud, Gianyar regency, Bali is able to earn 225 million rupiah. The tourist visit reached around 4,500 people. This was stated by Bendesa or traditional leader of the village Pakraman Padangtegal, Ubud district, Gianyar, I Made Gendra in Ubud on Monday (5/3). The tourism object which is occupied by hundreds of monkeys and becomes tourists’ attraction, is quite successful to be managed by local people. So, it needs no private sector for the management.The natural tourism object has been managed and developed by local people since 1970s. Monkey Forest Ubud is one of businesses of Padangtegal village. Other businesses are house of compost, management of garbage dues for tourism businessmen, the management of central parking in Ubud. No wonder, Padangtegal village received Kalpataru award for the service to manage and to preserve the forest.

We will present some beautiful songs from Effek Rumah Kaca Group Band. The song entitled "Cinta Melulu" is one of the leading songs by the Effek Rumah Kaca band. The lyrics usually criticize on monotonous music industry in Indonesia because it is dominated by romantic songs. In addition to "Cinta Melulu", several other songs of the Effek Rumah Kaca are also full of criticisms of social and political issues. Criticism through a simple pop music is actually the main theme presented by the band that has been formed in Jakarta since 2001. Although the criticism and arrangements are always awaited, it takes six years for the Effek Rumah Kaca Band to be independently perform. After riding in two compilation albums with various other bands, Efek Rumah Kaca finally released their first album in 2006 and received many positive responses from the real world and cyberspace. If the Indonesian-themed songs from other bands always have positive nuance and raising the spirit of nationalism, the Effek Rumah Kaca choosed another way. Through the song "Menjadi Indonesia", the Band reminded all people about the real condition. Since 2015, due to one of its personnel continued his study in the United States, the Effek Rumah Kaca reduced its frequency of its performance on stage. However, the Band still took the time to satisfy its fanatic fans through a "sudden celebration" entitled "Suddenly Concert" (in 2016) and "Suddenly Concert Again" (in 2017).The Effek Rumah Kaca will become representative of Indonesia in the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Texas, US, on March 9-13, 2018. In order to successfully perform at SXSW, the Efek Rumah Kaca Band conducting fundraising through the concert. Although it has already became a big band and famous in the country, the Effek Rumah Kaca openly declared that it needs amount of funds to join the festival.

The national manufacturing industry showed an increasingly aggressive performance in expanding its business and employment. This achievement is supported by the government by creating a conducive investment climate and providing business facilities for businesspeople in Indonesia. This was stated by Minister of Industry, Airlangga Hartarto in his written statement on Friday (2/3). Minister Airlangga said the government had launched several packages of economic policy, deregulation policy, and debottlenecking accompanied with simplifying requirements and business licensing. Based on a report by Purchasing Manager Index released by Nikkei and Markit, Purchasing Manager Index of Indonesia's manufacturing rose from 49.9 in January to 51.4 in February 2018. The Purchasing Manager Index above 50 was again achieved, since previously in December 2017 and January 2018, it was below of neutral point. While the Purchasing Manager Index above 50 indicated that manufacturing is expansive. Moreover, the achievement of Indonesia's Purchasing Managers Index in February 2018 also showed the highest position in operational condition since June 2016 or 20 months ago. Minister Airlangga Hartarto further said, the rise in the Purchasing Managers Index showed confidence in the industrial sector. Moreover, it's supported by the significant increase of doing business, from 106th rank in 2015 to the 72th rank in 2017. The Ministry of Industry recorded that polls of some purchasing managers at Indonesian manufacturing firms conducted by Nikkei. The results showed that the industry is experiencing the addition of new workers because usually related to an increase in domestic demand. With the increase of production, the company is able to raise the payroll for the first time in 17 months. The employment growth rate is the second highest level recorded during the survey. Referring to the data from the Ministry of Industry, during the period of 2015-2017, the number of medium industrial enterprises has increased significantly, reaching more than 4,000 business units until the second quarter of 2017, compared to 2014 about 1,200 business units. The increase is targeted to continue in the next two years, reaching more than 8,000 business units by the end of 2019.Meanwhile, the number of workers absorbed by industry in the 2015-2017 period has increased, from 15.390.000 (fifteen million three hundred and nine thousand) people in 2014 to 16,570,000 (sixteen million five hundred seventy thousand) people until the second quarter of 2017. It was targeted to continue to grow until the end of 2019 up to 17.1 million (seventeen million one hundred thousand) employees to be absorbed by the national industry.

Diplomatic relations between South Korea and its  neighbor North Korea is  entering  a new phase. Last Monday, South Korean government special envoy, visited Pyong Yang and was received directly by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The two Koreas' encounter, which has never happened for more than a decade, is said to bring fresh air to the growing relationship of both neighbors. The official North Korean news agency, KCNA, reported that President Kim Jong-Un received the South Korean delegation warmly at a special banquet. According to South Korean top officials there were at least three important things expressed in the meeting. The first is good news, North Korea is keen to resume bilateral talks with South Korea over the suspension of nuclear testing. Second, North Korea agreed to hold a meeting between the two Korean leaders in Pamunjom next month. Pamunjom is a city on the border of the two Koreas. The third, according to a South Korean government delegate, North Korean  President is also open to talks with the United States. The results of initial meetings between the North and South Korean governments, at least give hope  to the peace efforts of the two neighbors, who have been at war since the end of the second world war. The people who more or less come from  the same origins, but are separated and live in two hostile states, certainly hope that the agreement can materialize. And the relations between the two neighboring countries continue to improve. Previously, there was already a sign of softening the relationship between the two governments. That is,  when North Korea sent its athletes to join the recent winter Olympics in South Korea. However, the occurrence of a historic moment is yet to be awaited. Experience shows that North Korea has previously broken its promise. For example, it  broke a collective agreement on the suspension of a nuclear test in 2005. The reason for the breach of the agreement at that time was,  North Korea felt insecure after stopping nuclear tests which were intended to protect the country. Indonesia, as friend of the two Koreas certainly hopes that peace can soon be materialized in  the Peninsula.